UK NEWS

CASTLE MAY FALL TO PAINTBALL ARMIES

UNDER SIEGE: But Laird Lachlan Rattray welcomes the idea of paint-ballers taking over his castle

Saturday August 8,2009

By Ben Borland

IT IS a Scottish fortress that rampaging rival clans and even Oliver Cromwell’s army have failed to capture during its illustrious 500-year history.

But Craighall Castle, which sits high above Scotland’s second deepest gorge, may finally be overwhelmed – by junior banking executives armed with paintball guns.

Lachlan Rattray, whose ancestors have lived at the sandstone castle since 1533, has put his family seat on the market for offers around £2.2million.

But instead of another laird taking over the property, with its 176-acre grounds, he believes it will be transformed into a hotel and conference venue, staging a variety of team-building corporate events.

He said: “There are a lot of wealthy people in this world who rattle around in vast stately homes. I think there is too much rattling going on.

“I could try and pretend that a 37-room castle is not as big as it is, but I can’t.

“It suits being a working place and I think it would be fantastic for company days out, weddings, seminars, that kind of thing.”

Clan chief set to sell stately home as corporate venue

Despite some opposition from his clan, Mr Rattray said he can no longer keep up with the investment needed for the castle, near Blairgowrie, Perthshire.

“You have to work quite hard,” he said. “We run a bed and breakfast business, self-catering apartments and salmon fishing. The costs include a high council tax band, fishing rights, house insurance, repairs and maintenance, as well as heating oil and electricity.”

The sale also includes woodland, a pheasant shoot, deer stalking, fishing beats on the River Ericht – and the title of Baron of Craighall Rattray.

Mr Rattray, who will remain as clan chief, confirmed there has been “quite a bit of interest” from buyers in Scotland, England and mainland Europe.

He said: “I think they would be looking at business use. We always tried to balance being a family home for three children and having a commercial aspect as well. We have a niche market, but someone else come in and change the emphasis.

“It would be a perfect place to hold seminars and business meetings. It could be quite a good earner.

“We could have gone down that route, but we didn’t want it to impinge on our family life.”

He added that wife, Nicky, and their three children, Thomas, 22, Hewie, 19, and Flora, 17, are being supportive of the move away.

“Everyone is quite happy,” he said. “One shouldn’t have restraints in life, although we have been here since 1533.

“I think we are looking forward to the move, and we would like to stay locally because we know the area. The clan would obviously prefer it if we stayed here but everyone has to get on with their own lives.

“We have made the decision and it’s time for someone else to take on the challenge. We’ve put 25 years into it, that is a generation, so now we are just waiting for the right person to come along.”

Mr Rattray, who is also a professional bath polisher and runs an architectural salvage business, said the B&B at the castle has “never been busier”.

However, he is unable to support the high life enjoyed by earlier residents at Craighall, where as recently as the Sixties the Rattrays employed a butler, a cook, two ‘dailies’ and several gardeners.

The castle occupies an important place in Scottish history – Sir Walter Scott was a regular visitor and former clan chief John Rattray was Bonnie Prince Charlie’s personal doctor. Much of Craighall Castle has been rebuilt down the years, although the foundations and parts of the original drawbridge are still there.

The castle now boasts 12 bedrooms, a drawing room, library, sitting room, a family kitchen and five bathrooms.

Chris Hall, of upmarket estate agent Rettie & Co in Edinburgh, said: “There’s no doubt it would work as a corporate retreat and a spectacular wedding venue.

“There are a number of country houses and castles throughout Scotland run on a commercial basis, and it can be quite lucrative.”

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